Refuse container with bag dispenser

ABSTRACT

A refuse container having a dispensing aperture formed on a bottom inside surface thereof, with a holding member disposed beneath the bottom surface for holding bags. The bags can be arranged in a coil configuration within the holding member and can be pulled through the dispensing aperture to line an inside surface of the refuse container.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/482,358 filed Jun. 24, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The following invention relates to refuse containers or trash receptacles and apparatus and methods for dispensing trash bags and lining refuse containers with trash bags.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Refuse containers of all types are commonly lined with trash bags. The trash bags have many benefits including keeping the surface of the refuse container separated from trash within the bag, to maintain cleanness of the container, and being sealable and removable to transport and store trash.

[0006] One inconvenient task associated with lining refuse containers with trash bags is changing the lining, or trash bag, out. Usually this involves removing the prior full trash bag, then obtaining a new trash bag from a separate storage location, placing it within the refuse container and manually expanding the trash bag to ensure that it is fully open and lined against the trash container.

[0007] ATICO INTERNATIONAL, U.S.A., Inc., distributes a “nesting trash bag system” wherein a plurality of bags are nested together. The bags are disposed, or nested, sequentially within one another such that the outside surface of the first bag in the nest, nests against the inside surface of the second bag in the nest, and so on, including as many as more than twenty (20) bags. All of the bags can thus be placed in a trash container at one time with the inside surface of the first bag being exposed to receive refuse. After each bag is full, it can be pulled out and away from the inside surface of the next bag so that the next bag can receive refuse. One drawback with the “nesting trash bag system” is that the unit of nested bags is thick and must be disposed within the trash container to line its inside surface. In smaller trash containers this negates the benefit of the nesting trash bag system where a tradeoff is less capacity for the trash container. There is a need for a more convenient and space efficient way of replacing trash bags within the trash containers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention a refuse container is provided having a dispensing aperture for dispensing bags. The dispensing aperture is oriented on a bottom inside surface of the refuse container. A tray for holding bags can be disposed beneath the dispensing aperture and the bags are arranged in a coil within the tray. Thus, the bags can be pulled through the dispensing aperture to line an inside surface of the refuse container.

[0009] Further embodiments of the present invention also comprise a raised wall that surrounds the dispensing aperture for helping to prevent liquid accumulation from flowing through the dispensing aperture. In addition, the dispensing aperture can also comprise a sealing element.

[0010] The refuse container can also have handles with gripping members that can be used to grip a bag in place after it is pulled through the dispensing aperture to line an inside of the refuse container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the refuse container of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refuse container of FIG. 1 with a holding member of the refuse container being disposed in an open position, exposing an embodiment of the trash bag coil of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 3A is a side elevation view of the refuse container of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 3B is a top plan view of the refuse container of FIG. 1

[0015]FIG. 3C is an embodiment of the lip of FIG. 3B with the addition of a sealing element.

[0016]FIG. 3D is the lip of FIG. 3C also showing a trash bag partially pulled through the sealing element on of the lip.

[0017]FIG. 3E is a perspective view of the holding member of the refuse container of FIG. 2 without the trash bag coil.

[0018]FIG. 3F is an embodiment of the holding member also having an embodiment of a trash bag coil in a packaging box disposed within the holding member.

[0019]FIG. 3G is an embodiment of a trash bag coil disposed within an embodiment of a packaging box of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 3H is the packaging box of FIG. 3G with the cover on the packaging box.

[0021]FIG. 3I is an embodiment of the trash bag coil, showing a portion of the coil being unwound and the trash bags attached to one another with a perforated zone.

[0022]FIG. 3J is an embodiment of the trash bag chain of the present invention showing fold lines for the trash bags along which the trash bags can be folded to form a coil.

[0023]FIG. 3K is an embodiment of the trash bag chain of the present invention wherein the connections between the trash bags are formed with perforated sections 32′ (instead of perforated zones 32 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3J) with lateral spaces 32″ between the sections wherein there is no connection between the top end portions 19″ and bottom end portions 19′.

[0024]FIG. 4 is the refuse container of FIG. 3A also showing a trash bag being pulled upward through the lip.

[0025]FIG. 5 is the refuse container of FIG. 4 with the trash bag being further pulled through the lip.

[0026]FIG. 6 is the refuse container of FIG. 5 with the trash bag being further expanded and pulled upward in the general direction of arrow “E.”

[0027]FIG. 7 is the refuse container of FIG. 6 with the trash bag in a typical expanded position within the refuse container and with the top end portion of the trash bag being folded over the edge of the refuse container.

[0028]FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the refuse container of the present invention having detachable handles.

[0029]FIG. 9A is the refuse container of FIG. 8 with the detachable handles detached.

[0030]FIG. 9B is a side elevation view as viewed from an end of a detachable handle of FIG. 9A showing gripping members on an interior surface of the detachable handles.

[0031]FIG. 10 is the refuse container of FIG. 8 also having safety cords attached to the detachable handles.

[0032]FIG. 11 is the refuse container of FIG. 10 with a trash bag locked in place by the detachable handles.

[0033]FIG. 12 is an embodiment of the present invention having detachable handles connected to the refuse container by connection members.

[0034]FIG. 13 is an embodiment of the present invention having detachable handles pivotally connected to the refuse container by connection members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, upon reviewing this disclosure one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. In other instances, well known structures associated with refuse containers and trash bags have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.

[0036] The term “trash bag” as used herein refers to any type of liner or bag used to line refuse containers or collect refuse within a refuse container, regardless of the shape, size or material of the liner or bag. The term “refuse,” as used herein, is intended to include all types of waste, recyclables and any other material that is commonly disposed of within a bin or container, regardless of the type of refuse unless the context indicates otherwise. The term “refuse container” refers to any and all types of containers, bins, and receptacles configured to receive, store, transfer, hold, or contain refuse, regardless of the shape, size or material of the refuse container. The terms above are to be construed as has been defined unless the context indicates otherwise.

[0037] In some embodiments of the invention a refuse container assembly 1 is provided, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The refuse container assembly can comprise a refuse container 2 having handles 4 with sidewalls 6 and a bottom surface 8. Also, the refuse container 2 can have an extended bottom section 9 for receiving a holding member 10, as discussed, infra.

[0038] A holding member 10 (illustrated as a tray in the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) for holding trash bags can be disposed below the bottom surface 8, within the extended bottom section 9. The holding member 10 can have a plurality of compartments 12, 14, 16 defined by compartment sidewalls 20, with each compartment being capable of storing a separate item. A first compartment 12 can be configured for storing a plurality of trash bags. A plurality of trash bags are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being arranged in a coil 18 and disposed within the first compartment 12. The trash bags 18′ can each be pulled from the coil 18 through a dispensing aperture 22 of the bottom surface 8 to line the refuse container, as discussed below. The remaining compartments 14, 16 can be used to store items such as, for example, ties or air fresheners, or canisters containing air freshening substances or cleaning substances. Also, the holding member 10 can have a handle 11 for selectively sliding the holding member between an open and closed position as discussed below.

[0039] The holding member 10 can be slidably coupled to the refuse container as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, the holding member 10 can also be completely removed from the refuse container 2, as shown in FIG. 3E. When the holding member is coupled to the refuse container 2, it can be slidable in the direction of arrow “A” in FIG. 1, from a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Conversely, the holding member 10 can slide in the direction of arrow “B” in FIG. 2, from the open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0040] As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3B, in some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom surface 8 has a dispensing aperture 22. Also, a raised lip 24 can be formed on the bottom surface 8 surrounding the dispensing aperture 22. A user of the present invention can pull a trash bag 18′ from the plurality of trash bags 18 disposed beneath the bottom surface 8, through the dispensing aperture 22, into the refuse container 2, to line the refuse container 2. This is best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7. That is, FIG. 4 shows a trash bag 18′ beginning to be pulled through the dispensing aperture 22 by a user (not shown in the FIGs), generally in the direction of arrow “C,” into the refuse container 2. The trash bag 18′ is being pulled from a coil 18 of trash bags 18′, such as that the coil 18 illustrated in FIG. 2. Each of the trash bags 18′ is in a folded or compact position when it is part of the coil 18. FIG. 5 shows the trash bag 18′ further pulled, or extended, generally in the directions of arrows “D,” into the refuse container 2, with the trash bag 18′ beginning to be expanded from its compact position within the coil 18. FIG. 6 shows the trash bag further pulled, or extended from its position in FIG. 5, with the mouth or opening 26 almost fully open and with a top end portion 19″ of the trash bag 18′ being pulled generally in the direction of arrows “E” over the top of the sidewalls 6 of the refuse container 2. FIG. 7 shows the trash bag 18′ with a top end portion 19″ thereof pulled over the sidewalls 6 of the refuse container 2, with the trash bag 18′ lining the container and ready to receive refuse.

[0041] The raised lip 24 of the refuse container assembly 1 has an outside wall 28 that rises above the bottom surface 8 of the refuse container 2, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The outside wall 28 of the raised lip 24 can help block liquid from entering the dispensing aperture 22 when liquid leaks out of a trash bag 18′ containing refuse and accumulates at the bottom of the refuse container 2.

[0042] As discussed, supra, in some embodiments of the present invention, the trash bags 18′ are arranged in a coil 18, the coil having a substantially circular profile. See FIG. 2 and FIG. 3G. Furthermore, the coil 18 can be packaged in a packaging box 30, as best seen in FIG. 3G. The coil 18 can lay flat in the packaging box 30 with a diameter of the coil 18 being disposed laterally within the packaging box 30 such that an axis of the coil 18 is disposed vertically. The thickness “x” of the coil 18 can therefore also be measured vertically, as shown in FIGS. 3G & 31. The packaging box 30 can be any shape.

[0043] The coil 18 can comprise trash bags 18′ releasably attached to one another in end to end configuration, with bottom end portions 19′ of the trash bags 18′ attached to top end portions 19″, to form a chain of trash bags 18′ connected by tearable attachments. See FIG. 3I. The trash bag chain of connected trash bags 18′ are arranged in the coil 18. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, the tearable attachment between the trash bags 18′ can be formed by attaching the trash bags 18′ to one another with a perforated zone 32. The perforated zone 32 provides an attachment portion that is weaker than other portions of the trash bags 18′ to allow the trash bags 18′ to be torn away from one another without ripping another portion of the trash bags 18′ that could cause a leak.

[0044] The thickness “x” of the coil 18 can be less than about four (4) inches in some embodiments. In other embodiments it is about three (3) inches or less than three (3) inches. The thickness “x” can also be greater than four (4) inches and in some embodiments it is five (5) inches and in other embodiments it is six (6) inches. In each of the embodiments of the coil 18, a desired thickness of the coil 18 can be attained by folding the trash bags 18′, or the chain of trash bags 18′, laterally prior to forming the trash bags 18′ into the coil 18. For example, the trash bags 18′ can be folded multiple times laterally along the fold lines 34 illustrated in FIG. 3J, to achieve “x” thickness of the coil 18. The thickness “x” can be substantially equal to the distance between the fold lines 34.

[0045]FIG. 3K illustrates an embodiment of the chain of trash bags 18′ of the present invention wherein the trash bags 18′ are connected by perforated sections 32′, with lateral space 32″ between the perforated sections 32′ to allow a user to more easily separate the trash bags 18′ from one another, in comparison with the perforated zone 32 connection between the trash bags 18′ of FIG. 3J.

[0046] As discussed, supra, the trash bags 18′ can be arranged in a coil 18 and packed within a packaging box 30. The packaging box 30 can also have a cover 36. See FIG. 3H. The cover 36 can be a tear-away cover connected to the packaging box 30, such that the packaging box 30 can be sold with a coil 18 disposed therein, and with a cover 36 attached. In some embodiments, a purchaser of the packaging box 30 tears away the cover 36 and places the packaging box 30 within an embodiment of holding member 10′, as illustrated in FIG. 3F. The holding member 10′ illustrated in FIG. 3F has retaining members 20′, instead of sidewalls 20, for retaining a packaging box 30 received in the holding member 10′. In other embodiments, the packaging box 30 can be received in the holding member 10 between sidewalls 20 of the holding member 10 of FIG. 3E (i.e. within the first compartment 12.). Also, in further embodiments, the coil 18 can be removed from the packaging box 30 and inserted in the first compartment 12 of the holding member 10 of FIGS. 2 and 3E, for use with the refuse container assembly 1. For each of the embodiments in FIGS. 2, 3E, and 3F, the holding member 10, 10′ and the trash bags 18′ can be dispensed through the dispensing aperture 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0047] In yet further embodiments of the refuse container assembly 1, the refuse container 2 has removable, or detachable, handles 4′ having interior surfaces with gripping members 4″, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. A mating surface 5 of the refuse container 2 also has gripping members or apertures 4′″, the mating surface being configured to mate against the interior surfaces of the detachable handles that themselves can have insertion members 4″ or other gripping members. The insertion members 4″ can be inserted into the apertures 4′″ when they are attached to the refuse container 2. The detachable handles 4′ are also configured to be releasably attachable to the refuse container 2 with a portion of a trash bag 18 between the detachable handles 4′ and the mating surface 5. For example, the detachable handles 4′ can be detached prior to pulling the top end portion 19″ of a trash bag 18′ over a top of the sidewall 6 of the refuse container 2, See FIG. 9A. The top end portion 19″ of the trash bag 18 can then lay over the gripping members 4′″ (or apertures) of the mating surface 5. The detachable handles 4′ can then be attached to the mating surface 5 with the top end portion 19″ of the trash bag 18 disposed between the interior surface of the handles 4′ and the mating surface 5 such that the gripping members 4″, 4′″ grip and retain the trash bag 18 in position, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0048] In other embodiments of the present invention, safety cords 40 are provided, each having one end fixedly attached to the refuse container 2 and another end fixedly attached to a detachable handle 4′. This can prevent a detachable handle 4′ from being lost after it is detached. See FIG. 10 & FIG. 11.

[0049] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art after reviewing the present disclosure, the detachable handles 4′ with gripping members 4″ can also be connected to the refuse container 2 by connection members 7, 7″ such as those illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. The connection members 7, 7″ can be configured to allow the detachable handles 4′ to pivot away from the mating surface 5 when detached therefrom. In some embodiments, the connection members 7″ are single section members that can be flexible, such as those illustrated in FIG. 12. In other embodiments, the connections members 7 are dual section members (as illustrated in FIG. 13), with pivoting joints 7′ that allow the detachable handles 4′ to be lifted upward away from the mating surface 5 in the direction generally represented by arrows “G,” then pivoted away from the mating surface 5 in the direction generally represented by arrows “F.”

[0050] In still further embodiments of the present invention a sealing element 42 is disposed over the dispensing aperture 22, as best seen in FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D. The sealing element 42 can be comprised of flexible flaps that form a seal against a trash bag 18′ partially pulled through the aperture 22. See FIG. 3D. The sealing element 42 can help prevent liquid from draining through the dispensing aperture 22 when a leak develops in a trash bag 18′ within the refuse container.

[0051] Although specific embodiments and examples of the invention have been described supra for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art after reviewing the present disclosure. The various embodiments described can be combined to provide further embodiments. The described devices and methods can omit some elements or acts, can add other elements or acts, or can combine the elements or execute the acts in a different order than that illustrated, to achieve various advantages of the invention. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description.

[0052] In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is determined entirely by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refuse container assembly comprising: a container having an upwardly facing opening for receiving refuse and at least one sidewall and a bottom inside surface having a dispensing aperture through which a trash bag can be pulled; and a holding member for holding a plurality of trash bags, said holding member being disposed under the bottom surface of the container, said holding member also being removably attached to the container.
 2. The refuse container assembly of claim 1 wherein the holding member is a slidable tray having sidewalls for retaining the plurality of trash bags.
 3. The refuse container assembly of claim 2 wherein the tray is slidable with respect to the container between an open position wherein a user can access a first compartment of the tray to place trash bags within the first compartment and a closed position wherein the first compartment of the tray is inaccessible.
 4. The refuse container assembly of claim 2 wherein the tray has a handle portion formed on an outside wall of the tray at an end portion of the tray.
 5. The refuse container assembly of claim 2 wherein the tray comprises at least two compartments, with at least a first compartment for holding the plurality of trash bags and at least a second compartment.
 6. The refuse container assembly of claim 1 further comprising a raised lip surrounding the dispensing aperture, the raised lip extending upwardly away from the bottom surface to provide a raised wall around the dispensing aperture.
 7. The refuse container assembly of claim 1 wherein there is at least one sealing element disposed over the dispensing aperture that is capable of at least partially prevent liquid from leaking through the dispensing aperture from the container.
 8. The refuse container assembly of claim 1 wherein the container has handles having gripping members for gripping a trash bag between the gripping members and a surface of the container.
 9. A container and bag assembly comprising: a sidewall; an inside bottom surface within the container connected to the sidewall, the bottom surface having a dispensing aperture for dispensing bags; a holding member for holding a plurality of bags, said holding member being disposed proximate the dispensing aperture and below the bottom surface; and a plurality of bags configured for being receivable in the holding member, said bags being connected to one another by tearable attachments with at least one of the plurality of bags being pullable through the dispensing aperture for lining an inside portion of the container.
 10. The container and bag assembly of claim 9 wherein the plurality of bags is arranged in a coil.
 11. The container and bag assembly of claim 10 wherein the coil has a thickness of less than about four inches and wherein thickness is measured perpendicularly to a circular cross sectional plane of the coil.
 12. The container and bag assembly of claim 10 wherein the coil is less than about three inches in thickness and wherein thickness is measured perpendicularly to a circular cross sectional plane of the coil.
 13. The container and bag assembly of claim 9 wherein the plurality of bags is contained within a packaging box having a tear-away cover, with the packaging box being receivable in the holding member, and with the bags arranged in coiled configuration within the packaging box.
 14. The container and bag assembly of claim 13 wherein the holding member is tray coupled to the container and wherein the tray is configured to receive the packaging box.
 15. The container and bag assembly of claim 9 further comprising gripping members for gripping a bag when it is extended over the said sidewall to maintain the bag in an extended position lining an inside portion of the container.
 16. A container comprising: a sidewall; an inside bottom surface within the container connected to the sidewall, the bottom surface having a dispensing aperture for dispensing bags; a holding member for holding a plurality of bags, said holding member being disposed proximate the dispensing aperture and below the bottom surface; and at least one gripping member for gripping said bags to maintain the bags in a position wherein the bags are lining an inside surface of the container.
 17. The container of claim 16 wherein the gripping member is a handle portion of the container.
 18. The container of claim 16 wherein the gripping member is connected to the container with pivotable connections.
 19. The container of claim 18 wherein the gripping members are handle portions of the container.
 20. The container of claim 16 wherein the holding member is slidably coupled to the container. 